Daniel Farke issues Liam Cooper injury update after Leeds United captain is stretchered off vs Cardiff City
Liam Cooper has “rolled his ankle” and is currently being assessed for the severity of his injury according to Leeds United boss Daniel Farke.
The Athletic’s Phil Hay shared the Whites manager’s update via Twitter after the 2-2 draw with Cardiff City at Elland Road on Sunday (6 August).
Cooper was stretchered off after he landed awkwardly in the process of heading a Crysencio Summerville corner into the net just after the break to pull a goal back from two down.
The captain was involved in a difficult first half alongside Pascal Struijk where familiar defensive failings were in evidence, and was replaced by Charlie Cresswell in the 51st minute.
Problem position
Farke already wanted to sign a centre-back, with links to Liverpool’s Nat Phillips and Manchester City’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
The events at Elland Road in the first game of the season will only have increased those hopes as neither Cooper nor Struijk impressed in a typically slack defensive display in the opening 45 minutes, to go two goals down to a Bluebirds side which finished 21st in the Championship last term.
The Whites had the worst defence in the Premier League as they were relegated after conceding 78 goals, and Robin Koch, Diego Llorente and Rasmus Kristensen have all since left on loan, before Max Wober belatedly joined them in a major blow to the manager’s plans.
If Cooper is out for any length of time it will have the position looking very thin, and while Cresswell looked better after he came on he wasn’t tested with much defensive work.
Leo Hjelde is another option in the middle but also struggled after starting on the left and was replaced by Sam Byram at half time on Sunday.
Even if the captain is fit to return Farke is sure to want to add another option sooner rather then later based on the performances against Cardiff, and may be minded to turn to Cresswell from the start next time out either way.
In other Leeds United news, a Sky Sports pundit couldn’t believe the “incredible” performance of one new potential Whites star.